PARIS, France:

HAVING BEEN finally cemented in Olympic history for Jamaica, Olympic bronze medallist Chelsea Hammond-Ross hopes that she played her part in helping to pioneer Jamaica’s emergence in field events.

Hammond-Ross was awarded a bronze medal for the 2008 Olympic women’s long jump on Friday at a ceremony in Champions Park at Trocadero Gardens. She was upgraded to bronze for her performance in Beijing after silver medal winner Tatyana Lebedeva tested positive for a banned substance and was disqualified.

With that medal, Hammond-Ross became the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal in the women’s long jump. It is a distinction that she doesn’t take lightly, and she is proud to have paved the way for those who have come after.

“I hope that I was an inspiration to my fellow teammates and the fellow young ones coming up from before that, of course, it is possible. Jamaica has done great things but we don’t necessarily have a shine in the field events. But I know that, from 2008 up, Jamaica and the islands have been doing so well. Getting the attention they deserve,” said Hammond-Ross.

The majority of Jamaica’s medals from the Games have come from the field. Two of those have come in the men’s long jump and in the women’s triple jump where Shanieka Ricketts became the first Jamaican to win an Olympic medal in the event. That final was won by Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who won her country’s first Olympic medal.

With the field events now being in the spotlight for Jamaica, it is something that has warmed the heart of Hammond-Ross.

“I’m so excited. From the shot put to the long jump to the discus. I am so excited that our jumps are getting recognition. We are a part of track and field, we are not just runners, we are jumpers, we are throwers. And I am so happy that the encouragement is happening in the field events and we are showing you that we belong just as much as the sprinters.”